Plumber&#39;s tool for holding two pipes in alignment



C. H. REEVES Sept. 26, 1950 PLUMBERS TOOL FOR HOLDING TWO PIPES IN ALIGNMENT Filed Sept. 25, 1947 INVENTOR. A/PL :5 h. Ran 5 ATTORNL'Y.

Patented Sept. 26, 1950 PLUMBERS TOOL FOR HOLDING TWO PIPES IN ALIGNMENT Charles H. Reeves, Denver, Colo. Application September 23, 1947, Serial No. 775,670

2 Claims (Cl. 113102) This invention relates to improvements in plumbers tools and has reference more particularly to an improvement in tools for holding two pipes in axial alignment while making a wiped joint.

Plumbers, when installing fixtures such as kitchen sinks and. wash-bowls, find it necessary to make a wiped joint connection between a lead pipe and a brass pipe or between two sections of lead pipe. Such joints require the two sections of pipe to be held in axial alignment during the joint forming or wiping operation and this is very difficult in the absence of special tools.

It is the object of this invention to produce a tool by means of which two sections of pipe can be held firmly and securely in aligned position during the joint forming operation.

Another object of this invention is to produce a tool of a simple and substantial construction and which can be manufactured at a reasonable cost.

Another object of the invention is to produce a tool that can be employed in connection with pipes of many different sizes and which can be readily removed after the joint has been formed. A further object of this invention is to produce a tool of the type specified that can be easily adjusted so as to fit pipe sections of different lengths.

The above and other objects of this invention that may appear as the description proceeds are attained by means of a construction and an arrangement of parts that will now be described in detail, and for this purpose reference will be had to the accompanying drawing in which the invention has been illustrated in its present preferred form, and, in which:

Figure 1 shows a side elevation of the tool and shows it in operative position in two pipe sections that have been indicated by broken lines.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section'taken on line 2--2 Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a transverse section taken on lin 3-3 Figure 1, and

Figure 4 is a section taken on line 4-4 Figure 1.

Referring now to the drawing, reference numeral Ill designates a section of tube or pipe within which is positioned a round bar ll of a size to fit the opening in the pipe with an easy sliding movement. The upper end of bar I l is threaded as indicated at l2. An elongated threaded nut I3 is operatively connected with the threaded section I2 of the. bar. The lower end of the pipe when viewed as in Figures 1 and 2, is provided with two diametrically positioned slots l4 that extend entirelythrough to the end of the pipe. At right angles to slots Hi there are two diametrically opposed slots [5. The lower end of bar II is provided with diametrical slot IS in which are positioned the overlapping ends of the grapples 11. These grapples have their inner ends notched as shown in Figure 4 and are held in position by means of a pivot l8. Directly above the slot l6 bar 'II is provided with a diametrical slot I9 in which are positioned the overlapping ends of two grapple fingers [1a, and these are secured to the bar by means of pivot 20. The outer ends of the grapple fingers are serrated as indicated at 2|.

The upper end walls of slots [6 and 19 are formed by downwardy tapering surfaces 22 and the same is true of the lower wall of slot l9.

It will be evident from an inspection of Figure 2 that the grapple fingers l1 and Ila are freely rotatable about their pivots through a limited angle.

When bar H is in its lowermost position, the grapple fingers can be folded into a position where they will enter an opening not much greater than the outside diameter of pipe l0.

Slidably secured to bar [0 is a stop comprising a tubular section 23, from which radiate three downwardly tapering fins 24. A set screw 25 serves to fasten tubular member 23 to the pipe l0 and hold it in a desired longitudinal position.

Referring now more particularly to Figure 1,

' reference numeral 26 designates one end of a lead pipe, and reference numeral 21 designates a short section of copper pipe such as is. usually employed in connection with the installation of kitchen sinks and the like. In the drawing the ends of the pipes have been shown beveled as indicated at 28.

Lets now assume that the plumber desires to join the two sections of pipe by means of what is termed a wiped joint and which has been indicated in the drawing by reference numeral 29. The pipe section 21 is first threaded onto the tool and moved upwardly as far as it will go. The upper movement will of course be limited by the fins 24. The lower end of the tool is then inserted into the lead pipe and if the parts occupy a vertical position like that shown in Figures 1 and 2, the grapple fingers l1 and Ila will move outwardly in response to the action of gravity until they come into contact with the inner surface of pipe 26. The operator now rotates sleeve l3 in such a way as to move bar ll upwardly within pipe [0. This moves the pivot point 20 upwardly and tends to spread the grapple fingers. If the pipe is of sufficient diameter the serrated ends of the grapples will engage the inner surface of the pipe preventing further longitudinal movement, whereupon when member I3 is further rotated the two pipe sections will be forced together and can then be handled in aligned position while the plumber applies the lead for effecting the wiped joint. After the joint has been made, the tubular nut I3 is rotated in the opposite direction so as to move bar I I downwardly within tube 10, thereby releasing the grapples.

The two pipe sections are usually separated from the permanently installed pipes. During this operation the tool can be easily removed by turning the assembly upside down and striking the closed end of nut l3, thereby releasing the grapples, which responding to the action of gravity, will then fold inwardly allowing the tool to be removed from the pipe sections.

If the pipe sections have a small diameter the gripping action of the grapple fingers will not take place until they are forcefully spread apart by engaging the upper end walls of slots [4 and [9 which serve to force the fingers outwardly into engagement with the inner surface of the pipe.

From Figure 4 it will be seen that the pivotally connected ends of the grapple fingers are overlapped at the point where they pass through the bar I I.

From the above description it will be seen that the tool to which this invention relates is of a very simple and substantial construction; that it can be readily adjusted to fit pipe sections of varying lengths; that it is so constructed that it will operate successfully with pipes of greatly varying inside diameters and that it is positive in its action. a

Particular attention is calledto the means provided for effecting the gripping-action at the lower end of the tool. The means for gripping the pipe is of a rugged and substantial construction and positive in its action.

What I claim as new is:

1. A tool for securing together a pair of axially aligned pipes comprising; an elongated tubular body, a bar positioned within the body for longitudinal movement, said bar being nonrotatable with respect to the body, at least one pair of grapple fingers pivoted to the bar near one end thereof and extending through slots in the body, the slots being of such length that when the longitudinal axis of the tubular body is disposed in 4 an upwardly ranging position with said one end of the bar disposed downwardly the fingers may freely pivot by gravity independent of any movement of the bar in the tubular body, the fingers then being in a V formation and extending in angularly upward directions from their pivotal connection to the bar where they tend to wedge outwardly to a larger diameter when they engage .the inside of a pipe and the bar is moved in the tubular body, tapered stop means slidable on the outside of the tubular body between the ends thereof, means for securing the stop means at a selected position on the tubular body, the stop means being so formed that it will center the body within the pipes, and screw means on the bar abutting one end of the tubular body adapted to move the bar longitudinally in the tubular body and expand the grapple fingers after they have engaged one of the pipes, said slots havin end walls adapted to positively engage the grapple fingers to wedge them outwardly when the tool'is disposed in other positions wherein the grapple fingers will not swing to a V-formation by action of gravity.

2. A tool in accordance with claim 1 wherein two pairs of grapple fingers are provided, the pairs being in right angularly related planes and at difierent distances from an end of the tool.

CHARLES H. REEVES.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Great Britain Oct. 16, 1930 

